The father and son duo had dug over ten meters deep when they finally saw a light blue, semi-transparent stone.
"That's it, the Raw Spirit Stone. The Spirit Vein is right below!"
They dug a few more times and finally saw the Spirit Vein.
Its surface was covered by Raw Spirit Stone.
The Raw Spirit Stone formed a thick wall.
Faintly, Zhu Xiaosuo could see a figure moving within the Spirit Vein.
That figure, illuminated by the moonlight, saw Zhu Xiaosuo and Zhuang Yun and immediately ran over.
Desperately pounding on the Raw Spirit Stone wall, they cried for help.
"Help me! Help me!"
Zhuang Yun and Zhu Xiaosuo used the Crumbling Stone Force a few more times against the Raw Spirit Stone wall of the Spirit Vein.
They only managed to leave a few scratches on the Raw Spirit Stone wall.
It seemed their abilities were insufficient to rescue the cultivator inside.
Just as Zhuang Yun was about to send a Sound Transmission Order to Sun Qingde, Zhu Xiaosuo stopped him.
"Why does this person look familiar to me?"
Hearing this, Zhuang Yun also took a closer look.
"It seems to be... Zhou Bi?"
"It's me! I'm Zhou Bi! I hope you two fellow cultivators can save me!"
Because Zhu Xiaosuo and Zhuang Yun were backlit by the moon, Zhou Bi couldn't see their faces clearly.
But hearing that they recognized him, he was overjoyed.
He was saved!
But he didn't know that after Zhu Xiaosuo and Zhuang Yun confirmed his identity, they hesitated instead.
To avoid being overheard by Zhou Bi, the two used the Sound Transmission Order to communicate.
"Godfather, what do you think?"
"Godson, what do you say?"
"Godfather, didn't you say we shouldn't beat around the bush when we talk?"
"Godson, how can I bring this up? You're young, you can handle it, you say it."
"Damn it... Godfather, I'll just say it straight."
"Mm-hmm."
"From now on, I'll follow your lead, Godfather! Whatever you decide, that's what we'll do!"
"Damn it... Godson, can we not beat around the bush?"
The father and son both knew what the other was thinking.
Zhou Bi was trapped in the Spirit Vein.
That meant many of the Niu Clan's backers were trapped in the Spirit Vein.
It also meant many of the Ma Clan's allies were trapped in the Spirit Vein.
Many cultivators from Immortal-Knocking Town were trapped in the Spirit Vein.
If all the cultivators in the Spirit Vein died...
Immortal-Knocking Town would surely descend into chaos.
At that point, who would have the time or ability to care about the affairs of Mountain Chicken County?
Mountain Chicken County would immediately become the domain of the father and son.
Exchanging the lives of hundreds of unknown cultivators for the cultivation resources of the father and son sounded like getting something for nothing.
However, this matter was too cruel and immoral.
To have so many people die innocently in the Spirit Vein because of their greed.
They couldn't bear it.
Even though they understood the harsh reality that success often comes at a great cost.
But Zhu Xiaosuo and Zhuang Yun were neither generals nor heroes; they were just ordinary cultivators with a conscience.
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They were neither rulers who would "make the people suffer a little more" nor oligarchs who would be hanged from street lamps.
They were still human.
"Godfather, you've killed more people; give a suggestion. What should we do?"
"I... sigh, I... I can't say it either."
After a moment of silence, Zhu Xiaosuo spoke:
"We're not the ruthless type to do big things. How about we inform Sun Qingde now?"
Zhuang Yun nodded.
Yes, procrastination wouldn't change their guilty conscience.
It might even cause more deaths due to the delay.
Enough, the blood-stained steamed bun is not for me.
Zhuang Yun prepared to send out the Sound Transmission Talisman that might make them regret it for life.
At this moment, Zhou Bi saw the two seemingly in secret conversation and couldn't wait any longer, shouting:
"Fellow cultivators, please go get the elders to save me! Everyone else in the Spirit Vein has been crushed to death by the spirit collapse; I'm the only one who survived by luck! If no one comes, I won't last much longer!"
Hmm?
You're the only one still alive?
Is there such a good thing?
Zhu Xiaosuo and Zhuang Yun's eyes lit up.
If that's the case, then we have no psychological burden.
You're the Niu Clan's backer, which makes you our enemy!
Who can blame us for not saving an enemy?
Besides, we didn't kill you; we just didn't save you.
We are the righteous messengers!
The embodiment of morality!
Perfect!
With a single glance, Zhu Xiaosuo and Zhuang Yun understood each other's thoughts.
"Hurry and use the Artifact Control Technique to fill this pit!"
"Artifact Control Technique, Artifact Control Technique, Artifact Control Technique!"
"Stones come, stones come, stones come, ahhhh!"
"Fellow cultivators, what are you doing..."
Before long, Zhou Bi's voice was drowned out by the dirt and rubble.
Zhuang Yun and Zhu Xiaosuo busied themselves covering the traces with dead branches and leaves.
They moved a few broken trees over, making it look like the path was blocked.
Deep in the mountains and forests, in a place so remote.
This way, no cultivators should pass by.
After finishing everything, Zhu Xiaosuo and Zhuang Yun, panting heavily, wiped their sweat with their sleeves.
"Godson, I haven't exercised like this in years."
Zhu Xiaosuo nodded, gazing into the night:
"The wind tonight is quite noisy.
..."
Two days later.
"Elder Zhou! Elder Zhou! How could you leave like this! I was too late!"
Zhu Xiaosuo, as the first to discover the Spirit Vein, cried until he was out of breath.
After Zhu Xiaosuo reported finding the Spirit Vein, Sun Qingde rushed over to open it.
The first thing he saw was the already deceased Zhou Bi.
Zhou Bi's face was twisted in agony, his unwillingness evident.
Every inch of his skin seemed to cry out.
Seeing Zhou Bi's corpse, Zhu Xiaosuo immediately broke down in tears.
He was eventually led away by a few kind-hearted cultivators.
"Fellow Daoist Zhu, the dead cannot be brought back to life, please restrain your grief."
Zhu Xiaosuo's face contorted, wailing as if he had truly lost a dear friend.
Those in Immortal-Knocking Town who knew Zhou Bi were bewildered by Zhu Xiaosuo's display.
What did this mean?
Zhou Bi was the protector of the Niu Clan in Mountain Chicken County; why was someone named Zhu crying?
Could it be Zhou Bi was playing both sides?
Who knew Zhou Bi was such a person!
Ambiguous stance, deserved to die!
Zhu Xiaosuo cried as if his heart was breaking, as if he wished he could die in Zhou Bi's place.
Sun Qingde initially suspected Zhu Xiaosuo had discovered the Spirit Vein earlier but waited until everyone inside was dead to report it, trying to bring him down.
Seeing Zhu Xiaosuo's grief-stricken demeanor, Sun Qingde no longer doubted him.
Though he didn't doubt him, he couldn't let Zhu Xiaosuo off the hook.
The Spirit Vein was found, but all the cultivators inside were dead.
One hundred seventy-one lives, all lost.
All perished within this Spirit Vein.
The matter was too big for him to cover up.
He couldn't shoulder the blame alone; he'd never shake it off in this lifetime.
He had to drag someone down with him.
Zhu Xiaosuo, as the first to discover the Spirit Vein, was the perfect scapegoat.
Delaying rescue and causing harm to cultivators—Zhu Xiaosuo couldn't escape this charge.
Baseless accusation.
"Zhu Xiaosuo! You discovered the Spirit Vein early on but delayed reporting it for two days. What was your intention?!"
Sun Qingde's sudden questioning left the cultivators present bewildered.
Zhu Xiaosuo was clearly the hero who discovered the Spirit Vein first; why was he being accused?
The trio who arrived together, Zhu Jingyue, Chen Guisou, and Ba Shanyue, were also taken aback.
But with a glance exchanged among them, they understood why Sun Qingde was holding Zhu Xiaosuo accountable.
He was trying to share the blame.